Rockin’ Art of the 50’s and 60’s Tours

The Charles H. MacNider Museum is offering free, “Rockin’ Art of the 50’s and 60’s” guided tours on Friday, February 1, 2019, in conjunction with the Winter Dance Party. The Museum’s largest collection is of post – World War II art features some of the most famous individuals from the mid-century art scene.

Title Unknown, Lee Krasner. Print on paper. Ackerman Print. 2000.7

While the 1950’s were marked by overall conservatism and conformity in an attempt to return to post-war normalcy, the art scene, much like the music scene, began to blossom with emerging artists. The focus of the art world shifted from Paris, where it had been centered for centuries, to New York City. This new American – centric vision of art was supported by art movements such as the development of Abstract Expressionism. Artists like Jackson Pollack developed new painting techniques, for example – the splatter technique, that were a far reach from earlier traditional American artists such as Grant Wood and his traditional rolling hills. The Museum holds a variety of work from these ground breaking artists including Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler, and Andy Warhol.

Tour times are 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. and are on a first come, first serve basis. Admission to the Museum and these special tours are free.